Already seen under the likes of two-time XCO World Champ, Alan Hatherly, and at this year’s Eurobike show, a new Anthem from Giant is another one of mountain biking’s worst kept secrets. Utilising the brand’s new Low-Latency Speed Concept, the latest Giant Anthem and Liv Pique are all about stiffness, efficiency, and speed for cross-country racing. Here’s everything you need to know.
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With the new Anthem, Giant has introduced something called the ‘Low-Latency Speed Concept’. It’s all about making the most out of a rider’s input. To do so, the brand paid special attention to the stiffness of the frame and its weight, all to make power transmission as responsive as possible.
As you would expect of a cross-country ripper, the Anthem is built around an Advanced SL composite carbon fibre, and we’re told that a medium frame weighs 1,530g. Giant then reckons that the Anthem carries a stiffness-to-weight ratio that beats the Specialized S-Works Epic 8 by 16.66%. This then accounts for a super snappy ride feel, said the brand, along with a dynamic character and ‘instantaneous reactivity’.
Adding to the fancy Low-Latency Speed Concept is perhaps the biggest change from the old bike – the suspension layout. Now, the shock is placed under the downtube but the Anthem still employs the FlexPoint Pro platform, so it uses a flex seatstay rather than a bearing-equipped Horst link – a super common feature on modern XC bikes.
Giant states that this new FlexPoint Pro arrangement results in a lower initial leverage ratio, which then brings a firmer pedalling platform, so the bike should be pretty keen on the pedals, to say the least. However, it’s said that there’s no real compromise to small-bump sensitivity, so traction should be plentiful. The bike also benefits from a boost in suspension travel from 100mm on the older bikes up to 120mm.
The Low-Latency Speed Concept spreads towards the Anthem’s wheels as the models use Giant’s 29in XCR and XCA WheelSystems, which use a 120-tooth helical ratchet that achieves a three-degree engagement for responsive pedalling. Both wheelsets then benefit from rims with 5mm wide and rounded edges to help fend off pinch flats.
Other frame features include space in the front triangle for two bottles and a sleek-looking one-piece handlebar and stem in carbon and alloy options. Both bars offer internal cable routing and come in 780mm in length, as well as a choice of stem lengths from 50 to 90mm.
As for the geometry, a large Anthem boasts a 465mm reach, a 66.5-degree head tube angle, a 75.5-degree seat tube angle, and a 437mm chainstay. This can all be tweaked a touch thanks to a flip chip found at the shock mount, which will steepen the angles by half a degree, and lengthen the reach by 5mm.
Models and specifications
Giant is bringing eight models of the Anthem to the market, two of which are frame-only purchases. In fact, there are almost two types of Anthem on offer, the regular model and the Anthem X. The latter bike boosts the bike’s 120mm of front suspension up to 130mm, and brings a slightly burlier build. This is also reflected in the frame-only options and their shock specifications.
On regular Anthem Advanced builds, expect RockShox SID forks and SIDLuxe shocks as well as SRAM Transmission drivetrains across the board. The Anthem X then benefits from a Fox 34 SL fork paired with a Fox Float SL Factory or Performance shock, depending on the model. These bikes also don SRAM T-Type shifting.
There’s a difference in rubber, too, as the Anthem relies on a pair of super-racy Maxxis Aspen 2.4in tyres whereas the Anthem X bikes roll on Maxxis Rekon and Rekon Race tyres.
Prices start at £4,000 for the frame onlys, while full builds start at £5,000 and go up to £10,500. Liv is also bringing new Pique models with the same pricing; however, there are no frame-only options.
